Modi to reach Goa for BRICS, hails BIMSTEC

New Delhi, Oct 14 (IANS) Prime Minister Narendra Modi who is slated to reach Goa on Friday for the upcoming eighth BRICS Summit and the first ever BRICS-BIMSTEC meet saying that the outreach with the BIMSTEC leaders was significant.

“The outreach with BIMSTEC leaders is significant. We hope to tap the huge potential for cooperation and the dividends this will bring,” Modi tweeted. The two-day BRICS summit will be held from October 15 to 16.

The Prime Minister, in a tweet also welcomed Russian President Vladimir Putin and President Michel Temer of Brazil, who will also reach Goa on Friday.

“India is honoured to welcome President Putin for the India-Russia Annual Summit, which will also take place in Goa,” the Prime Minister tweeted.

Modi said that he looked forward to useful conversations with leaders from China, South Africa, Brazil and Russia on key global and regional challenges.

“As BRICS chair this year, India embraces a stronger emphasis on enhancing economic and people-to-people ties. This will benefit us greatly,” he said.

Both Putin and Modi will stay at the Taj Exotica while the other heads of state will be put up in other hotels.

The Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) is an inter-governmental organisation of which Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Thailand are members.

“I am happy that India is facilitating an outreach Summit with BIMSTEC leaders of Bangladesh, Bhutan, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Thailand,” Modi said in another tweet.

According to the reports, a joint meeting of the BRICS and BIMSTEC leaders will be held on October 16. India is also counting on the BIMSTEC in a bid to corner Pakistan after 19th SAARC summit which were scheduled in Islamabad were cancelled.